Sacramento Republic FC held its final training session of the week on Wednesday ahead of its first of four matchups with the Tacoma Defiance on Thursday evening. With seven points in their last three matches, Republic FC is poised to make a run at the final Pacific Division playoff spot. Check out what Dan Casey, Jerome Kiesewetter and head coach Mark Briggs had to say about the upcoming Tacoma match, keys to the club’s recent success and more
Sacramento Republic FC held its final training session of the week on Wednesday ahead of its first of four matchups with the Tacoma Defiance on Thursday evening. With seven points in their last three matches, Republic FC is poised to make a run at the final Pacific Division playoff spot. Check out what Dan Casey, Jerome Kiesewetter and head coach Mark Briggs had to say about the upcoming Tacoma match, keys to the club’s recent success and more
Republic FC Head Coach Mark Briggs
Republic FC Head Coach Mark Briggs
On the message to his players after seven points in three matches
“When you lose a game, you don't get too low. When you win a game, you don't get too high. The focus has to be the next game. And that's all it's been. They got in Monday morning. And I said well done Saturday, but that's gone. Tacoma is now Thursday, and that's the sole focus and we've got to go there and we've got to do a job. That's the way it has to be. We’re on a little run, which is nice, but it's one game at a time.”
On the difference a couple of games has made in the club’s success…
“It’s a little bit of continuity. We’ve been able to keep a consistent line and a consistent style of play. We're not so open, we're not so vulnerable and the players are executing the tactics that have been asked of them. For me, it's there's more of a desire, more of a cohesiveness. And you can see that when they go out on the field.”
On a team approach to the attack versus individual play…
“I think results breed confidence, and confidence is everything in sports. And I think the boys again, a little more confident. The boys are getting a little more cohesive and a better understanding of one another. You're beginning to see that in the performances and the goals that we're scoring. Now we have to continue going in that direction and continue collectively getting better defensively and getting better from an attacking standpoint. It’s work in progress, but we’re going in the right direction.”
On the message to his players after seven points in three matches
“When you lose a game, you don’t get too low. When you win a game, you don’t get too high. The focus has to be the next game. And that’s all it’s been. They got in Monday morning. And I said well done Saturday, but that’s gone. Tacoma is now Thursday, and that’s the sole focus and we’ve got to go there and we’ve got to do a job. That’s the way it has to be. We’re on a little run, which is nice, but it’s one game at a time.”
On the difference a couple of games has made in the club’s success…
“It’s a little bit of continuity. We’ve been able to keep a consistent line and a consistent style of play. We’re not so open, we’re not so vulnerable and the players are executing the tactics that have been asked of them. For me, it’s there’s more of a desire, more of a cohesiveness. And you can see that when they go out on the field.”
On a team approach to the attack versus individual play…
“I think results breed confidence, and confidence is everything in sports. And I think the boys again, a little more confident. The boys are getting a little more cohesive and a better understanding of one another. You’re beginning to see that in the performances and the goals that we’re scoring. Now we have to continue going in that direction and continue collectively getting better defensively and getting better from an attacking standpoint. It’s work in progress, but we’re going in the right direction.”
Republic FC Jerome Kiesewetter
Republic FC Jerome Kiesewetter
On his fit into Republic FC’s attacking third as goals start to come more easily…
“With the way we play, I think I fit in perfectly. We created a lot of chances the last two or three games and scored five goals in two games. We still have to find the rhythm. You always have to know what the strengths and weaknesses of a player are, and I think the more games we play together, the better we will become.”
On his fit into Republic FC’s attacking third as goals start to come more easily…
“With the way we play, I think I fit in perfectly. We created a lot of chances the last two or three games and scored five goals in two games. We still have to find the rhythm. You always have to know what the strengths and weaknesses of a player are, and I think the more games we play together, the better we will become.”
On the atmosphere at his first home match…
“One of the players asked if home games are like this all the time. I just said yes. There were even more people sometimes – he was kind of surprised. It’s good to play in front of fans. They give you more motivation.”
On the freedom and trust Mark Briggs has instilled in him since his arrival…
“The trust is great. Mark makes it a lot easier on the field. You're not in a corset because you’re allowed the freedom to play. We have the confidence then. We have the confidence up front, which is very important. If you have the confidence, then you'll score, you’ll assist and you’ll win games.”
On the atmosphere at his first home match…
“One of the players asked if home games are like this all the time. I just said yes. There were even more people sometimes – he was kind of surprised. It’s good to play in front of fans. They give you more motivation.”
On the freedom and trust Mark Briggs has instilled in him since his arrival…
“The trust is great. Mark makes it a lot easier on the field. You’re not in a corset because you’re allowed the freedom to play. We have the confidence then. We have the confidence up front, which is very important. If you have the confidence, then you’ll score, you’ll assist and you’ll win games.”
Republic FC Dan Casey
Republic FC Dan Casey
On this week’s training and looking ahead to Tacoma…
“It's been a good week, a quick turnover. We're all quite happy with where we’re going. We are starting to go the right way now so we have to keep it up. It’ll be a tough game though on Thursday. These lads are playing quite well and they're getting good results. We know it's going to be a small field and it's going to be tight. There’s going to be a lot of people there, so we’ll have to turn up for it.”
On this week’s training and looking ahead to Tacoma…
“It’s been a good week, a quick turnover. We’re all quite happy with where we’re going. We are starting to go the right way now so we have to keep it up. It’ll be a tough game though on Thursday. These lads are playing quite well and they’re getting good results. We know it’s going to be a small field and it’s going to be tight. There’s going to be a lot of people there, so we’ll have to turn up for it.”
